Pesticides & Poverty aimed to assist developing countries to effectively implement chemical conventions and promote sustainable livelihoods, integrating an environmental dimension into development priorities. The three (and a bit) year project was primarily funded by the Development DG of the European Commission, with support from the Africa Stockpiles Programme, and ended in June 2008. Activities were carried out in Senegal and Tanzania, with participation from Ethiopia, Benin and Mali. Please follow the links below to see detailed information about each project activity.

1. Multi-stakeholder meetings
   Annual meetings were held in Senegal and Tanzania for representatives from government, regional bodies, and NGOs, on the status of various conventions and how Pesticides & Poverty could provide support. Key results include the identification of discrepancies between Senegalese legistation and regional CILSS regulations, which led to a P&P-supported study to update national legislation to bring it in line. Stakeholder maps drawn up for the chemical conventions in each country are another key resource.
   

2. Community Health Monitoring
   Following training of trainers in methods developed by PAN Asia and the Pacific, the Rotterdam Secretariat supported 2 pilot projects in Togo and Tanzania to promote collaboration between NGOs and Designated National Authorities (DNA) in community-based monitoring of health impacts of pesticides. The NGOs and DNAs worked together to develop joint monitoring strategies to be implemented in a second phase.
   
   

3. Ecological monitoring of pesticide impacts
   Using the manual “Ecological Monitoring Methods for the Assessment of Pesticide Impact in the Tropics”, ecologists from the NR Group trained government, academic and NGO staff to monitor ecological impacts of pesticides. Three follow up projects were selected in Ethiopia, Mali and Tanzania, and partners carried out environmental risk assessment for pesticide use in specific conditions there.
   

4. Case Studies: Partners in the participating countries will carry out 6 case studies on the specific problems and possible solutions, demonstrating the vital need for action under existing conventions and chemical initiatives. Problems include misuse of containers, illegal trade, buried and leaking drums of pesticides, etc.

5. Africa Stockpiles Programme: The 15 year programme aims to dispose of existing stockpiles and prevent re-occurrence of future obsolete pesticides. It requires countries to ratify the Stockholm Convention, and recommends ratifying the Rotterdam and Basel Conventions, as a way to improve pesticide management and reduce future stockpile accumulation. Elements of Pesticides and Poverty can support the ASP, providing an opportunity for dissemination throughout Africa.

6. Consolidated guide to the Chemical Conventions
   This publication is now available in English, French and Swahili. It was researched by ECOSPHERE in Brussels, with consultation in Sengal and Tanzania, as well as consultation with FAO and other peer reviewers-+

 

7. Integrated Pest Management: Partners with successful experience of IPM training with farmers will organise field visits for policy makers to visit the projects. We hope to demonstrate the benefits and feasibility of sustainable strategies, aiming to mainstream these projects and have national IPM policies adopted.